Protective device for systems of water supply



l. SALVONI April 26, 1938.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR SYSTEMS OF WATER SUPPLY Original Filed June 26, 1936 lNvENToR Lto salvarla .0p/DOI ATTORN EY aan.; A,... 26, 1938 I 2,115,499

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR SYSTEMS OF WATER SUPPLY Ippolito Salvoni, New York, N. Y., assigner of forty-four percent to Riccardo Salmona, New York, N. Y., and twelve percent to Edward Q. Jackson, Jackson Heights, N. Y.

Original application June 26, 1936, Serial No. 87,376. Divided and this application July 24, 1936, Serial N0. 92,297

6 Claims. (Ci. 137-69) This invention relates to plumbing accessories The primary object of this invention is to proand more particularly refers to improvements in vide a vacuum breaker of a novel and improved devices for protecting water against pollution construction adapted to positively prevent conthrough back siphonage or intermingling with taminaton of. the water' supply through back water coming from an unsafe source., siphonage by the contents oi' a plumbing appli- 5 In the installation of bathroom and other apance served thereby. pliances, it frequently happens that the discharge Another object is to provide a novel and imoutlet for the water supplied by the city system proved type of vacuum breaker adapted to preprojects within the basin or other appliance to a vent contamination of the water supply through 10 point lower than the level that might be reached back siphonage from the contents of a plumbing 10 by the water within the basin or other appliance. appliance served thereby and also adapted to In such cases there is the ever present possibility prevent contamination through seepage of the of the unclean water contained in the basin or unclean Water by gravity into the supply system. other appliances reaching the supply system A further object is to provide a plumbing acthrough back siphonage induced by a vacuum or cessory adapted for insertion in a water supply 15 a reduction in pressure occurring in the supply system Where a direct cross connection exists system. with another unsafe water supply system, said In certain types of appliances where water is accessory being in the form of a unit comprising admitted to a basin or trough from the bottom a system of vacuum breaker and check valves,

thereof, there is also the possibility for the unadapted to positively prevent contamination of clean water reaching the supply system through the safe by the unsafe water supply. 2@ seepage by gravity. A still further object is to provide, in a vacuum In some types of installations, water may be breaker comprising a valve controlled air inlet. caused to reach the basin or other appliance and a water `inlet and outlet, novel and irnfrom two different sources through a common proved means governed by the water flowing discharge outlet, the arrangement forming a so through the device for actuating the air valve. 25 called direct cross connection. This is the case, Other objects and advantages of the present for instance, in shower baths where water is supinvention will more fully appear as the descripplied through a common outlet from both a. tion proceeds and will be set forth and claimed source-of cold and a source of hot water supply, in the appended claims.

If the hot water is originally robtained from My invention is illustrated by way of example t the same system which supplies the cold water, in the accompanying drawing;'in which:

or in other words, if both waters are safe, no Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a vacuum danger of pollution of one water supply from the breaker embodying my invention;

other exists. However, very frequently the wa- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same 35 ter flowing through the hot water system is not taken through line 2--2 of Fig.` 1; derived from the same source as the cold water Fig- 34 iS 8. Vertical Sectional View Similar t0 but is obtained from a cistern or from some other that of Fig. 2 illustrating an alternative form source which may be unsafe. of my device; and

40 very frequenuy water from a cistern is used Fis. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a device 40 for supplying hot water in a building, especially similar to that shown in Fig. 2 with the addition where the city water happens to be hard and of check valve means for preventing back flow.

unsuited for use in the boilers. Such water is Devices embodying my invention have already used mainly for washing dishes and utensils and l been described but not separately claimed, in

bathing but is unt for drinking and cooking. connection with a bidet forming the subject of 45 At times the hot water, although derived from an application entitled Bidet With Safety Waller the safe water supply is subjected to some sofsupply arrangement, Serial No. 87,376, copenrltening treatment that will make it objectionable ing herewith. Therefore, the present applicafor use except for washing and bathing. Under tion should be considered as a division thereof.

these conditions, with adirect connection be- Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawing it 50 tween the hot and cold water systems, the cold is seen that my improved vacuum breaker comwater might become contaminated from the hot prises a fitting IIJ forming the base portion there water intermingling therewith whenever a vacuof, said fitting having a threaded inlet Il leading um or a reduction in pressure should occur in the to a well I2 and a threaded outlet i3 connnunicatcold water system. ing with an upwardly directed passage I4 leading my,

to the top surface I5 of the fitting. said top surface being surrounded by an internally threaded vertically extending ange I6.

Well I2 is provided with a tubular riser I1 vertioaliy extending therefrom. At the top, said riser is provided with perforations I8 through which water coming from inlet II can pass and reach an annular chamber I 9 surrounding riser I1, said annular chamber being formed by an other tubular member vertically extending from the top 'I5 of the fitting, the lower end of said member 2U being screwed within flange I 6.

The upper end of tubular member 20 is closed by a cap 2I having a number of laterally extending air inlets 22 leading to an air chamber 23 having an outlet 24 opening into chamber I9. Said outlet 24 is normally open and is controlled by a valve 25 carried by a stem 26 extending through the top of and within tubular chamber 21 formed by riser I1. The portion of said stem within the said chamber 21 is provided with a series of disks 28 of buoyant material such as cork, for instance, acting as a float so that when water is admitted to chamber 21 and rises within said chamber to flow through openings I8 at the top, said iioat will cause valve 25 to rise to a position where it will close outlet 24, as shown: in Fig. 2.

When the water ceases to flow, the weight of valve 25 and parts attached thereto will cause said valve to drop so that the air passages 22, 23, 24 will remain open. From annular chamber I9 water can reach the outlet I3 by means of passage I4, as will be understood. In practice the device is installed in a pipe line leading to an appliance to be served thereby or else is connected to the appliance direct so that the upper end of the device remains well above the line of maximum level that can be reached by the liquid in the basin or trough or other receptacle of the appliance served thereby, said maximum level line being represented in the gures by lines a-b.

The device can then function as an air break between the appliance and the supply line sov that in case a vacuum should at anytime be formed in the supply line. the air sucked through passages 22,- 23, 24 would prevent siphonage of the contents of said basin or trough through the discharge outlet leading water to said basin or trough, in case said discharge outlet should happen to be submerged.

The fact that before the water can reach chamber I9, chamber 21 must be entirely iiooded, renders the device immediately responsive and positive in action, because as soon as water reaches chamber 21 the float 28 forces Valve 25 to its closing position with a force increasing with the rising of the water within chamber 21 until it reaches the top thereof to be discharged through openings I8.

The device as designed will also effectively prevent the possibility of contamination of the water supply by unclean water from the appliance reaching the supply line by gravity, due to the fact that not only the air inlets but also the upper end of riser I1 through which the water must flow before reaching outlet I3 is caused to extend upwardly to a point where it remains at a level immediately higher than that of the maximum liquid level line a-b.

The buoyancy of the valve controlling the air inlet of the device need not necessarily be provided in the manner shown in Fig. 2. For instance, in place of the cork disks shown at 28 in Fig. 2, the stem 26' of the valve can be equipped with an elongated hollow member 29 as shown in Fig. 3, said member 28 providing the necessary buoyancy and forming with the inner surface of riser I1 an annular chamber 21 allowing the water to reach the openings I8 at the top of the riser.

Where the hot Water is obtained from an unsafe source and a direct cross connection between the hot and cold water pipes exists, it is necessary to make provisions in order to prevent contamination of the safe by the unsafe water Supply.

A fair amount of protection can be obtained by inserting a check valve, or preferably two check valves in series, in the safe water pipe leading to the direct cross connection, said valve or valves preventing the return flow of the water and therefore preventing water from the unsafe source of supply reaching the safe water supply. On the other hand, check valves cannot absolutely be relied upon when water merely seeps through due to leaking valves, therefore, additional safety provisions should preferably be made.

A preferred type of unit for preventing contamination of the safe by the unsafe water supply through a direct connection is illustrated in Fig. 4. Said unit, which should preferably be inserted in the safe water line between the valve controlling said line and the point where said line connects with the lunsafe water line, comprises a body or fitting 30 having an inlet 3I and an outlet 32, a check valve 33 at the inlet end, a check valve 34 at the outlet end, and an air break similar to that previously described interposed between the two check valves.

Like in the previous case, the air break comprises a tubular member 35 upwardly extending from the well 36, another tubular member 31 concentric therewith upwardly extending from the top surface 38 of the fitting, a cap 39 provided with air inlets 40, y4I for said member 31 and a valve 42 carried by stem 43 and actuated by a iioat 44 controlling said air inlets.

chamber 46 between members 35 and 31, to outlet 32 through check valve 34 is extended downwardly to an outlet 41 tofwhich may be connected a bleeder pipe 48. By virtue of this arrangement if for any reason water from the outlet end should have a chance to leak through valve 34 it would collect within passage 45 and would be discharged through bleeder pipe 48, it being understood that said bleeder pipe will lead to a point of discharge where it cannot be submerged.

The function of the additional air break is to prevent such conditions as might arise if a vacuum exists on the safe Water line While the safe water control valve is openr and the check valves leak. In this case, unsafe water might be pulled back unless an air break is installed between the two check valves thus preventing the formation of a negative pressure at the bleeder pipe. Unless the air break is installed the formation of a vacuum between the two check valves might cause the unsafe water leaking through the check lvalve to be pulled back with the air coming up through the bleeder.

The check valves are shown of the ball type although it must be understood that any suitable type of check valve can be employed.` Each check valve preferably tends to maintain its closed position by gravity, as check valves that li5 The passage leading from the annular.I

the

depend exclusively upon the action of a spring holding the valve against its seat are not reliable and are generally objected toby various boards of health. However, while I use check valves actuated by gravity, I prefer to also utilize the action of a spring pressing the valve against its seat in order to minimize the danger of leakages, as shown at 48, 5D, in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I provide a novel and improved type of vacuum breaker which may or may `not be combined into a single unit with a check valve or valves, according to the use for which the device is intended.

The constructional details of my device may vary from those shown without departing from inventive idea. The drawing is therefore to be understood as being intended for illustrativepurpose only and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

'1. In the combination of a receptacle and a water supply pipe therefor, a device for preventing the back flow of liquid from said receptacle to the supply pipe comprising a body -ceptacle having openings at its upper end, a

tubular member concentric therewith also upwardly extending from said body, said tubular member forming with said receiving chamber an annular liquid discharging chamber communicating with said outlet, a cap provided with an air inlet, mounted at the upper end of said tubular member, a valve controlling said air inlet, a stem carrying said Avalve projecting within and axially slidable with respect to said receiving chamber and a buoyant member within said receiving chamber, carried by said stem, said buoyant member actuating said valve to close said air inlet before the liquid supplied to said receiving chamber reaches the upper end-thereof.

I2. A device of the class described comprising a body having an inlet and` an outlet, a liquid receiving chamber communicating with said inlet upwardly extending from said body, a liquid discharging chamber communicating with the upper end of said liquid receiving chamber also upwardly extending from said body, the lower end of said discharging chamber communicating with said outlet, an inlet for admitting air to either chamber, a valve having buoyant means responsive to the action of liquid flowing through said chambers, to close said air inlet, a check valve interposed between said discharging chamber and said outlet, preventing back flow of liquid from the latter to the former, and a bleeder pipe outlet interposed between said check valve and said discharging chamben 3. In the combination of a receptacle and a water supply pipe therefor, a device for preventing the back flow of liquid from said receptacle to the supply pipe comprising a bodyhaving an inlet and an outlet, a liquid receiving chamber communicating with said inlet upwardly extending from said body to a level substantially above the maximum water level in thereceptacle, a liquid discharging chamber communicating with the upper end of said liquid receiving chamber also upwardly extending from said body, the lower end of said discharging chamber communicating with said outlet, an inlet for admitting air to either chamber, a valve controlling said air inlet, buoyant means within said receiving chamber, responsive to the action of liquid flowing through said receiving chamber, buoyant means actuating said valve to close said air inlet before the liquid suppli d to said receiving chamber reaches the uppe end thereof, a 'check valve interposed between said discharging chamber` and said outlet, and a check valve interposed between said receiving chamber and said inlet, said check valves preventing back flow of liqui'dfrom said outlet to said inlet.

4. A device of the class described comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a liquid receiving chamber communicating with said inllet upwardly extending from said body, a liquid discharging chamber communicating with the upper end of said liquid-receiving chamber also upwardly extending from said body, the lower end of said discharging chamber communicating with said outlet an inlet for admitting air to either chamber, a valve having buoyant means responsive to the action of liquid flowin hrough said chambers, to close said air inlet, check valve interposed between said discharging chamber and said outletf a check valve interposed between said receiving chamber and said inlet, said check valves preventing back flow of liquid from said outlet to said inlet, and a bleeder pipe outlet interposed between said rst mentioned check valve and said discharging chamber.

5. A device of the class described comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a liquid receiving chamber communicating with said inlet upwardly extending from said body, having openings at its upper end, a tubular member concentric therewith also upwardly extending from said body, said tubular member forming with said receiving chamber an annular liquid discharging chamber communicating with said outlet, a cap provided with an air inlet, mounted at the upper end of said tubular member, a valve controlling said air inlet responsive to the action of liquid flowing within said receiving chamber to close said air inlet, a check valve interposed between said discharging chamber and said outlet, a check valve interposed between said receiving chamber and said inlet, said check valves preventing back flow of liquid from said butlet to said inlet, and a bleeder pipe outlet interposed between said first mentioned check valve and said discharging chamber.

6. A device of the class described comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, two check valves inserted in series therebetween, preventing back flow of liquid from said outlet to said inlet, an air break and a bleeder pipe outlet interposed between saidtwo check valves, and a valve responsive to the action of liquid flowing IPPOLITO SALVONI. 

